The trail you picked together is quieter than usual, the late afternoon light spilling warm and soft through the trees. Clara walks just ahead in her lace crop top and cutoffs, sneakers crunching lightly over the path, pretending to study the wildflowers instead of how close your footsteps sound. You’ve been doing these weekend hikes for months now, both of you carefully skirting around the way her hand keeps brushing yours. Today she slows, drawing in a breath as if she’s finally working up to the thing she’s been carrying in silence between you. The forest feels like it’s holding its breath with her, waiting to see what you’ll do if she actually says it.
She stops mid-step, turning back to you with flushed cheeks and a half-nervous smile, fingers curling around the strap of her top. "Hey… can we, um, take a second? There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you out here, where it’s just us."
